Unresponsiveness: Causes & Reasons

Possible Causes for Unresponsiveness

[…] syndrome (UWS) or coma. 89 patients were identified from a prospective CA database. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] with the outcomes of patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) 6 months after admission to a rehabilitation department. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

HYPOTHESIS: Bedside and remote assessments of patients with decreased LOC, using either the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) or Full scale Of UnResponsiveness (FOUR), score are equivalent [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Brain Death

[…] state of coma in which the cause has been identified. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The patient is unresponsive to noxious stimuli. Pupils are dilated and unresponsive to light. Oculovestibular and gag reflexes are absent. [step2.medbullets.com]

A 40-year-old woman was found unresponsive by her family. Baclofen was found to be the responsible overdose. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Postictal State

For generalized tonic-clonic seizures, where the entire brain is eventually involved, the postictal state can consist of complete unresponsiveness with gradual recovery associated [sharecare.com]

When you arrive, the patient is on the floor of the dorm, unresponsive and twitching. What do you do? [jailmedicine.com]

[…] without moving) Impaire d consciousness Automatisms (e.g., fumbling, lip smacking, chewing, swallowing) Confusion Anterograde amnesia Aphasia Fatigue, possibly short phase of coma [amboss.com]

Beta Blocker Poisoning

Reserve cardiac pacing for patients unresponsive to pharmacologic therapy or for those with torsade de pointes unresponsive to magnesium. [emedicine.medscape.com]

Coma may be prolonged, depending on the half-life of the agent involved and the coexisting morbidity. [calsprogram.org]

[…] with fluids initially Add adrenaline infusion if not responding to fluids Atropine aliquots can also be considered for bradycardia Pacing may be necessary if bradycardia is unresponsive [emergpa.net]

Methylmalonic Acidemia

[…] including lethargy, failure to thrive, recurrent vomiting, dehydration, respiratory distress, muscular hypotonia, hepatomegaly and coma. [orpha.net]

The mechanism of nephrotoxicity in vitamin B12-unresponsive MMA is not yet known. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The biochemical and therapeutic responses to dietary therapy were studied in a 25-month-old girl and a 1-month-old girl with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA-emia), which was unresponsive [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Conversion Disorder

She was first evaluated for causes of her stridor and unresponsiveness. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Upon admission to the hospital, he developed syncopal-like episodes of unresponsiveness associated with body-wide jerking and stiffening as well as tachycardia and hypertension [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] resembling fainting or coma Material summarized from: American Psychiatric Association (2013). [mentalhelp.net]

Diabetic Coma

If it’s not treated and gets worse, the person can gradually become unresponsive (going into a diabetic coma). [sja.org.uk]

The patient may be unresponsive or unconscious. A patient suffering from diabetic coma may appear to have the flu (influenza) or a severe cold. [firehouse.com]

If they lose responsiveness at any point, open their airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat someone who’s become unresponsive. [sja.org.uk]

Metabolic Encephalopathy

When to Seek Medical Attention Any person who displays altered mental function, unexplained confusion, seizure, weakness, or unresponsiveness should receive medical attention [healthcare-online.org]

Hypotension, unresponsive to volume expansion, points to intoxication with barbiturates or opiates, myxedema, or Addisonian crisis. [aneskey.com]

coma. [dartmouth.edu]

Myxedema Coma

Granger said that when he arrived home from work and found his wife unresponsive, he called 911. [journals.lww.com]

Unresponsiveness or lethargy that results from severe or neglected hypothyroidism. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

She's unresponsive to verbal and noxious stimuli. Mr. Granger says that for the past few days his wife complained of weakness, fatigue, and feeling cold. [journals.lww.com]

Myxedema

Granger said that when he arrived home from work and found his wife unresponsive, he called 911. [journals.lww.com]

Retrieved April 09th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/myxedema Sentences Sentence examples Sentence Examples Myxedema coma can cause unresponsiveness; irregular, [yourdictionary.com]

Symptoms and signs of myxedema coma include: Below normal temperature Decreased breathing Low blood pressure Low blood sugar Unresponsiveness Inappropriate or uncharacteristic [nlm.nih.gov]

Brain Stem Herniation

Since I thought someone in a coma would be totally unresponsive and immobile.) A Medical Mystery I was a mystery to doctors and therapists. [thequadspot.com]

[…] unreactive pupils Absent doll's eye Weak decerebrate Medulla Coma Apnoea Absent brainstem reflexes Unresponsive, flaccid Tonsillar heniation This is the consequence of a [derangedphysiology.com]

On physical exam, there is weakness 2/5 strength throughout the right-side, and a left pupil that is unresponsive to light. [medbullets.com]

Meningitis

[…] bright lights being very sleepy or difficult to wake fits (seizures) Babies may also: refuse feeds be irritable have a high-pitched cry have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive [nhs.uk]

[…] above being sick a headache a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but this will not always develop) a stiff neck a dislike of bright lights drowsiness or unresponsiveness [nhs.uk]

[…] hands and feet (Image: meningitisnow.org) Refusing food and vomiting (Image: meningitisnow.org) Fretful, dislike being handled (Image: meningitisnow.org) Drowsy, floppy, unresponsive [dublinlive.ie]

Syncope

[…] head Administer aromatic ammonia inhalant Reevaluate vital signs If patient’s condition deteriorates Activate EMS Monitor vital signs If at any time the patient becomes unresponsive [dentalcare.com]

You become unresponsive, lose muscle tone and may fall. Its occurrence is fairly common and increases with age. [luriechildrens.org]

[…] called angioneurotic edema) Allergy testing A low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) Fainting after a period of other symptoms, including confusion, shakiness, and sweating Unresponsiveness [merckmanuals.com]

Nicotine Poisoning

Severe symptoms (e.g. limb jerking and unresponsiveness) were only seen with the larger amounts. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Just after 4 p.m. on Dec. 9, police officers were called to the one-year-old boy's home in Fort Plain, New York after he was found unresponsive. [techtimes.com]

If someone is unresponsive, not breathing, or choking, call 911. [aapcc.org]

Benzodiazepine Overdose

BACKGROUND: Severe benzodiazepine overdose can result in coma and respiratory depression that might cause brain hypoxia, necrosis and delayed post-anoxic leucoencephalopathy [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Hallucinations Hypotension (lowered blood pressure) Coma Death Benzodiazepine medications like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin enhance the effects of alcohol, and vice versa, [americanaddictioncenters.org]

There was no significant difference in the systolic blood pressure of patients with benzodiazepine overdose responsive or unresponsive to a verbal stimulus. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Reye Syndrome

We report the case of a 17-month-old white girl whose 1-day history of vomiting and agitation followed by generalized unresponsiveness caused her to be brought to a local [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Then he may become confused or even become unresponsive. If the disease progresses, there is a strong chance he will have seizures and go into a deep coma. [healthychildren.org]

If the patient is in grade 3 coma (see below), mechanical ventilation may be necessary. Coma can be scored using the Glasgow coma scale. [web.archive.org]

Encephalitis

Clinicians should be wary of this condition, especially when assessing patients with recent onset of psychiatric symptoms unresponsive to antipsychotic treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] and cognitive decline Stage II Myoclonic jerks, seizures and dementia Stage III Rigidity, extra-pyramidal symptoms, progressive unresponsiveness Stage IV Coma, vegetative [doi.org]

The prognosis of HSE is better in younger patients, and those having a disease duration of four days or less and a Glasgow coma score of 6 or less at the time of acyclovir [doi.org]

Liver Cirrhosis

Early signs of toxin accumulation in the brain ( Hepatic Encephalopathy ) may include neglect of personal appearance, unresponsiveness, forgetfulness, concentration problems [liver.ca]

With time, hepatic encephalopathy can progress to unresponsiveness or coma. Jaundice. [mayoclinic.org]

These toxins can dull mental functioning and cause personality changes, coma and even death. [health24.com]

Schizophrenia

We report a case of premenstrual mood changes in a patient with schizophrenia who was unresponsive to conventional treatment but successfully managed with dienogest. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Using this rating, we assessed all trials of atypicals in schizophrenia unresponsive to at least one drug. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

While many antipsychotics have been demonstrated as effective in the treatment of schizophrenia, a substantial number of schizophrenia patients are partially or fully unresponsive [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Apallic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Some patients awaken from coma (that is, open the eyes) but remain unresponsive (that is, only showing reflex movements without response to command). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Abstract Background Some patients awaken from coma (that is, open the eyes) but remain unresponsive (that is, only showing reflex movements without response to command). [springermedizin.de]

Compared with people in coma, apallic patients very often have their eyes open. It seems they can look around. [wikilectures.eu]

Vegetative State

Abstract Predicting recovery of consciousness in patients who survive their coma but evolve to a vegetative state (recently coined unresponsive wakefulness syndrome) remains [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Abstract One of the worst outcomes of acquired brain injury is the vegetative state, recently renamed 'unresponsive wakefulness syndrome' (VS/UWS). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Mondino, Pavia, Italy. 4 Coma Science Group, Cyclotoron Research Center, University of Liege, Belgium. 5 Istituto di Bioimmagini e Fisiologia Molecolare, CNR, Segrate; and [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Shock

• If they become unresponsive at any point, open their airway, check their breathing, and prepare to treat someone who has become unresponsive. [sja.org.uk]

Dizziness or fainting Weakness Depending on the type of shock the following symptoms may also be observed: Eyes appear to stare Anxiety or agitation Seizures Confusion or unresponsiveness [medicinenet.com]

Acute Alcohol Intoxication

On Nov.9, police and firefighters found Vaibhev Loomba, 20, at the Zeta Psi fraternity on Bancroft Way after responding to reports of an unresponsive male. [dailycal.org]

He was unresponsive, which was attributed to alcohol intoxication. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] respirations of eight or less per minute or lapses in respiration of more than 10 seconds Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin (person not getting enough oxygen) Unconsciousness Unresponsive [mtholyoke.edu]

Hypoglycemia

To report a case that substantiates the presence of hypoglycemia at the time of death of a young man with type 1 diabetes, who was found unresponsive in his undisturbed bed [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In some cases of hypoglycemia, failing to resolve the low blood sugar can result in coma. [healthcentral.com]

On the third hospital day, the patient was found unresponsive with blood glucose of 40 mg/dL. He had no history of glucose dysregulation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Drug Overdose

If someone is not breathing or is unresponsive, and they have taken a medicine, seek help straight away. Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. [healthdirect.gov.au]

In the most severe cases, alcohol poisoning can lead to coma, brain damage, and death (NHS). [aviaryrecoverycenter.com]

If they are still unresponsive, call 911 immediately. [drugabuse.com]

Stroke

He was unresponsive, which was attributed to alcohol intoxication. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

For example, if people are in a coma or unresponsive (as may result from brain herniation), mechanical ventilation (with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth or nose [msdmanuals.com]

All participants presented within 24 hours of the cerebral event and with a score less than 80 on the Orgogozo Functional Scale (0 = completely unresponsive, 100 = no deficit [doi.org]

Brain Stem Hemorrhage

[…] hemorrhages, especially at the level of the Superior Colliculi is rare in itself but can lead to obstructive hydrocephalus and can be discovered after the patient is found unresponsive [neurology.org]

If the bleeding is in the lower brain (brainstem), where most of the automatic body functions are regulated, a patient may become unresponsive or go into a coma. [medicinenet.com]

An acute neurologic examination found that Collard was unresponsive to a variety of physical and verbal stimuli. [massgeneral.org]

Viral Meningitis

People with this condition may have the following symptoms: Headache Neck stiffness Sensitivity to light Increased sleepiness Unresponsiveness Fever Nausea, vomiting Lack [dshs.state.tx.us]

being sick a headache a blotchy rash that doesn't fade when a glass is rolled over it (this won't always develop) a stiff neck a dislike of bright lights drowsiness or unresponsiveness [nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk]

She's drowsy, floppy or unresponsive. Her crying is unusually high-pitched. She is vomiting, and refusing to feed She has cold hands and feet. [babycentre.co.uk]

Bipolar Disorder

He was unresponsive to the usual pharmacotherapies for bipolar disorders such as mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Management Lithium prevents or attenuates manic and depressive episodes, maintained at 0.8–1.0 mmol/L; if the manic episode is unresponsive, electroconvulsive therapy may [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

[…] after other treatments (such as medication or psychotherapy) are tried, or in cases where rapid response is needed, as in the case of suicide risk and catatonia (a state of unresponsiveness [nimh.nih.gov]

Metabolic Alkalosis

‡ May be either chloride-responsive or chloride-unresponsive. [msdmanuals.com]

Urinary Cl > 20 mmol/L suggests a Cl − unresponsive form. Urinary K and presence or absence of hypertension help differentiate Cl − unresponsive alkaloses. [pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk]

Patients with chloride-unresponsive metabolic alkalosis rarely benefit from rehydration alone. [msdmanuals.com]